SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

AVAILABLE LAND IN MARL-

BOROUGH

ACQUISITION OF ERINA ESTATE.

[Special to Express.]

WELLINGTON, Deo. 7. In the course of. an interview with .youv corresj)ondent regarding the operations of thf Government under the ;Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. the JBon/ Mr Allen, referring to ' the Ma-rlborough district,; stated -that so far only two soldiars havo selected 48-li- acres in the Marlborough, land district. This area, when cleared, will be suitable for dairying. An area of 522 acres is .still available for selection in the Marlbdrojgh district. This land is a portion of "the Wither Settlement, and is situated within two miles of the Blenheim Post OSice. s'

The- Erina Estate, containing 7534 dcvcns, has been acquired for the purpose of soldiers' settlement; and the land in expected to be in the market in March next. Thif- estate is situated in the Wairau Valley, about 18 miles from Blenheim, and has access by a good motor road. About 2500 aures of the estate is flat,, and the balance is easy hilly country, well adaptp-d for «heep. So fai1 not many applications front soldiers have been received in Marlborough, but. it is anticipated that a considerable number of applications will be lodged for the Erina estate.